Good, Not Fantastic Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/14/2017 to 05/13/2017 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I was able to take a much needed break from Wellesley's academics and campus life, in turn giving me a greater appreciation for it. The change of pace and scenery made me see how much I love my school, even if it can be stressful. Going abroad gave me an opportunity to get to know myself as a flourishing young adult, whether through day-to-day living or as I traveled throughout Europe. I refreshed my love for art, food, and culture both alone and alongside some wonderful friends.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I was definitely looking for a break from the academic rigor of Wellesley, but in retrospect, not to the extent that I experienced. Personally speaking, I do better when I have more structure, so it became difficult to remain engaged with classes because there were so few assignments. All of my classes were composed of American students, which was both nice and frustrating. I made good friends, but I would have liked to meet and interact with international students in and outside of the classroom because I think I would have benefitted from an abroad experience that was well-rounded. I was in a foreign country, yet all of the students I interacted with on a daily basis were American like me. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Because of my living situation – I was in a kollegium – I received a food stipend card. I was able to budget the money that was on the card and made it last for the entire semester. However, I went out for coffee, drinks, or food at least 4 or 5 times a week; I would say I was spending upwards of $75 each week. For public transportation, DIS provided a semester-long pass for the metro, bus, and train, though for a certain number of zones. All that being said, Copenhagen is extremely expensive and although DIS subsidizes food and transportation, I had to be very mindful of my spending. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75-$100 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200-levels Spanish |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known that there would be such a lack of student body racial/ethnic diversity. Also, many (probably most) of the students are looking for a very, very stereotypical study abroad experience – a lot of drinking and partying, traveling every single weekend, etc. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
